Where does the name Leon come from?

Leon is a boy name of Greek origin.

Is Leon a boy or a girl name?

Leon is used for both. In U.S. Social Security records, about 1% of children given the name Leon are girls and 99% are boys.

How popular is the name Leon in 2023?

Leon ranks #148 for boys in the U.S. Social Security Administration's 2023 dataset. Its all-time U.S. peak was 1924 with 2,714 babies.

How do you pronounce Leon?

Leon is pronounced LEE-on (2 syllables).

What are common spellings of Leon?

Leon is also written as Leo, León, Leonid.

A name from Greek · Boy

Leon

From λέων (leōn) and its Latin descendant leo, "lion." Borne by thirteen popes and recurring across French, Spanish, English, and German traditions as a quietly powerful classic.

Compare

Popularity over time

A 143-year arc in numbers.

177,483 U.S. births recorded from 1880–2023.

Popularity · 1880–2023

2,459 births in 2023

1880 1951 2023

Babies named per year Peak year Most recent

Meaning

A name that means something.

LFrom λέων (leōn) and its Latin descendant leo, "lion." Borne by thirteen popes and recurring across French, Spanish, English, and German traditions as a quietly powerful classic.

Variants & spellings

3 ways to spell "Leon".

Each transliteration carries a slightly different cultural fingerprint.

Leo Most common León Leonid

Quick answers

People often ask about Leon.

What does the name Leon mean?: Leon means from λέων (leōn) and its Latin descendant leo, "lion." Borne by thirteen popes and recurring across French, Spanish, English, and German traditions as a quietly powerful classic.
Where does the name Leon come from?: Leon is a boy name of Greek origin.
Is Leon a boy or a girl name?: Leon is used for both. In U.S. Social Security records, about 1% of children given the name Leon are girls and 99% are boys.
How popular is the name Leon in 2023?: Leon ranks #148 for boys in the U.S. Social Security Administration's 2023 dataset. Its all-time U.S. peak was 1924 with 2,714 babies.
How do you pronounce Leon?: Leon is pronounced LEE-on (2 syllables).
What are common spellings of Leon?: Leon is also written as Leo, León, Leonid.

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About this page

Popularity counts come from the U.S. Social Security Administration's national dataset. Meanings and origins are curated from etymological sources. If you spot an error, please let us know.